Animal Ordinances in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
16 verified animal ordinances for Los Angeles, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
LAMC 53.00 and zoning regulations allow keeping chickens in most residential zones. Roosters are prohibited in single-family residential zones. A maximum of one rooster is allowed in agricultural zones. Livestock such as horses and goats are generally restricted to lots of 17,500+ sq ft in A1/A2 zones. The number of allowed animals varies by lot size and zone.
Los Angeles Backyard Chickens & Livestock
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
LAMC 53.06.2 requires all dogs to be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length when on public property. Dogs must be licensed annually per CA Food & Agricultural Code 30500+. Off-leash areas are limited to designated dog parks. Owners are liable for injuries caused by their dogs under CA Civil Code 3342 (strict liability).
Los Angeles Dog Leash & At-Large Laws
Heavy RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Los Angeles does not have breed-specific legislation banning any dog breed. However, LAMC 53.06.1 requires all dogs over 4 months to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains an intact permit. Dangerous or vicious dog declarations are based on individual behavior, not breed, under LAMC 53.34.4.
Los Angeles Dog Breed Regulations
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Food & Agricultural Code Sec. 31683 (State Preemption — Local Dog Programs May Not Be Breed-Specific)
31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except ...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping allowed in Los Angeles. City regulations govern hive placement setbacks and density. No statewide CA preemption; LAMC provisions apply.
Los Angeles Urban Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
LAMC 53.38 requires a permit from the Department of Animal Services to keep any wild, exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animal or reptile. Keeping such animals must also conform to zoning regulations under LAMC Article 2, Chapter I. LAMC 53.39.1 separately regulates exhibition of wild or exotic animals in circus or performing animal shows.
Los Angeles Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
LAMC 53.06.5 prohibits feeding non-domesticated mammalian predators including coyotes, bears, and mountain lions. Feeding creates public safety hazards by habituating wildlife to humans. Violations may result in fines. LA Animal Services and CA Department of Fish and Wildlife handle wildlife complaints.
Los Angeles Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Los Angeles caps animals per dwelling under LAMC §53.59, generally three dogs at one-family lots. Animal Services and LAPD pursue hoarding cases as cruelty under California Penal Code §597, with seizure and prosecution possible.
Animal hoarding investigated under city limits and state cruelty law
Heavy RestrictionsCat Rules
Los Angeles does not require leashes for cats but mandates current ID tags on outdoor cats and supports a citywide trap-neuter-return program for community cats under LAMC §53.06.5 and §53.69. Owners must prevent nuisance and feeding wildlife.
Cats need ID, can roam owner property; TNR backed for ferals
Some RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Under LAMC §53.15.2, every dog and cat over four months old in Los Angeles must be spayed or neutered. Owners who want to keep an intact animal must obtain an intact-animal permit, with narrow exemptions for breeders, working dogs, and verified medical reasons.
Dogs and cats over four months must be sterilized citywide
Heavy RestrictionsMicrochipping
LAMC §53.15.3 requires every dog and cat over four months old in Los Angeles to be implanted with a registered microchip. LA Animal Services microchips all adopted, redeemed, and licensed animals before release, and California state law also requires shelter chips before transfer.
Dogs and cats must be microchipped before leaving city shelters
Heavy RestrictionsCoyote Management
Los Angeles follows a coexistence policy: residents are expected to haze coyotes and remove attractants. LAMC §53.06.5 makes it unlawful to feed wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules forbid relocation or trapping of healthy coyotes that have not threatened public safety.
Hazing required, feeding banned; healthy coyotes are not relocated
Some RestrictionsPet Store Rules
LAMC §53.73 bans retail sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in Los Angeles. Pet stores may offer these animals only if sourced from public shelters or registered nonprofit rescues. The 2012 LA rule preceded California's statewide AB-485 mirroring it.
Pet stores may sell only shelter or rescue dogs, cats, rabbits
Heavy RestrictionsPet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming shops in Los Angeles need a city business tax registration and an LA County Department of Public Health animal-care facility permit. Mobile groomers also fall under LAMC §103.0103 vendor licensing and must follow sanitation and humane handling standards.
Pet Groomers Need County Animal Permit and City License
Some RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary offices and small animal hospitals are allowed by-right in LA's C2 and C4 commercial zones under LAMC §12.13 and §12.14. Overnight boarding requires soundproofing, and noise must comply with LAMC §41.40 buffers near residential property.
Veterinary Clinics Allowed in Commercial Zones with Conditions
Some RestrictionsBird Protection
Los Angeles protects wild birds under LAMC §53.55 and emerging bird-safe building design guidance, layered atop California Fish and Game Code §3500-3516 and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Native species, raptors, and active nests cannot be harmed or removed.
Bird Protections Combine LA Code With State and Federal Law
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Rescue Permits
Anyone caring for injured native wildlife in Los Angeles must hold a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit under Fish and Game Code §1020. LA Animal Services and LA County DACC coordinate intake; CDFW-permitted facilities like California Wildlife Center and Pasadena Humane handle most cases.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Requires CDFW Permit Plus Local Coordination
Heavy RestrictionsCDFW Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Program
Injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals may be temporarily possessed for rehabilitation by a person in California under a Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit issued by CDFW. Trained wildlife rehabilitators provide treatment and care of these animals for the purpose of their release, in a condition of good health, to suitable habitat in the wild. Wildlife rehabilitators have an important role...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Los Angeles city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Los Angeles County →